2LT International News

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka: Sri Lankan police this week arrested former President Ranil Wickremesinghe on allegations that he misused public funds during his time in office, making him the first ex-head of state in the country’s history to face such legal action.

Police spokesman Fredrick Wootler said Wickremesinghe, who served as president from 2022 to 2024, is accused of diverting state money to cover expenses for attending his wife’s graduation ceremony in London. The trip allegedly took place immediately after an official visit to the United States.

Wickremesinghe appeared before a magistrate in Colombo for a lengthy hearing on August 22. The court ordered that he remain in custody until August 26. He did not issue any public comments during the proceedings, and his office has yet to release a statement.

Outside the courthouse, hundreds of supporters gathered in protest, denouncing the arrest as politically motivated.

The arrest marks a significant milestone in the anti-corruption drive launched by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, who came to power last year pledging to hold Sri Lanka’s political elite accountable for years of mismanagement.

Dissanayake secured the presidency in September 2024, defeating candidates from established parties widely blamed for the country’s devastating economic collapse. Two months later, his party consolidated power with a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections. Since then, authorities have opened investigations into more than a dozen former ministers and senior officials suspected of corruption or abuse of office.

Wickremesinghe assumed the presidency in 2022 during one of Sri Lanka’s darkest periods. Mass protests and an economic freefall had forced then-President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to resign and flee the country. As Rajapaksa’s successor, Wickremesinghe moved quickly to stabilize the economy:

• Inflation began to ease,
• The rupee strengthened, and
• Foreign reserves showed signs of recovery.

His government negotiated a crucial International Monetary Fund bailout, but the rescue plan included painful austerity measures. Increases in taxes and utility costs helped restore fiscal order, but they also fueled public anger and eroded his popularity.

Despite his role in halting the economic slide, Wickremesinghe left office with a deeply divided reputation—he was praised for stabilizing the financial system but criticized for placing heavy burdens on ordinary citizens.